Method of processing non-real time service and broadcast receiver

ABSTRACT

A method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver, which receives and processes a service being transmitted in non-real time, and a broadcast receiver are disclosed. Herein, the method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver includes receiving a signaling information table including additional information on contents configuring a non-real time service and a content identifier for each content, acquiring and storing the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content from the signaling information table, when a non-real time specific service guide is requested from a real-time specific service guide screen, configuring the non-real time specific service guide based upon the stored additional information and content identifier of the stored contents, thereby displaying a non-real time specific service guide screen, and performing a playback or download scheduling function on the content selected from the non-real time specific service guide screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 12/688,532 filed on Jan. 15, 2010, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Nos. 61/145,104 filed Jan. 15, 2009, 61/153,973 filed Feb. 20, 2009, 61/153,985 filed Feb. 20, 2009, 61/160,689 filed Mar. 16, 2009, 61/169,711 filed Apr. 15, 2009, 61/179,005 filed May 17, 2009, 61/226,259 filed Jul. 16, 2009, 61,255,844 filed Oct. 28, 2009, each of the above listed application is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field

The present disclosure relates to a method for processing non-real time service and broadcast receiver thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

A digital television (DTV) can not only provide video and audio services which are conventional TV services, but can now also provide various other services. For example, the DTV can provide an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) or the like to the user and can simultaneously provide broadcast services received through 2 or more channels. Especially, the number of services that a reception system can provide has been significantly increased since the reception system has been equipped with a large-capacity storage device and has been connected to the Internet or data communication channels which enable bidirectional communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of receiving and processing non-real time services and a broadcast receiver.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of providing a user interface (UI) for non-real time services and a broadcast receiver.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of enabling shifting between a real-time service guide and a non-real time service guide and a broadcast receiver.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver includes receiving a signaling information table including additional information on contents configuring a non-real time service and a content identifier for each content, acquiring and storing the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content from the signaling information table, when a non-real time specific service guide is requested from a real-time specific service guide screen, configuring the non-real time specific service guide based upon the stored additional information and content identifier of the stored contents, thereby displaying a non-real time specific service guide screen, and performing a playback or download scheduling function on the content selected from the non-real time specific service guide screen.

In the step of displaying the non-real time specific service guide screen, when a high-light is moved further towards a left side than a current time displayed on the real-time (RT) specific service guide screen, the RT-specific service guide screen may be shifted to the non-real time (NRT) specific service guide screen. Herein, the RT-specific service guide screen may include a menu button for viewing a previous program, and the NRT-specific service guide screen may include a menu button for viewing a current program. And, in the step of displaying the non-real time specific service guide screen, when the menu button for viewing a previous program is selected from the RT-specific service guide screen, the RT-specific service guide screen may be shifted to the NRT-specific service guide screen.

In the step of displaying the non-real time specific service guide screen, content titles may be sorted based upon an actual broadcasting time of each content, thereby being displayed on the NRT-specific service guide screen. The content titles may also be sorted based upon a current time, thereby being displayed on the NRT-specific service guide screen. Alternatively, the content titles may be sorted by category, thereby being displayed on the NRT-specific service guide screen.

In another aspect of the present invention, a broadcast receiver includes a tuner and a service manager. The tuner receives a signaling information table including additional information on contents configuring a non-real time service and a content identifier for each content. And, the service manager acquires and stores the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content from the signaling information table. Herein, the service manager may configure a non-real time specific service guide based upon the stored additional information and content identifier of the stored contents, when a non-real time specific service guide is requested from a real-time specific service guide screen, thereby displaying a non-real time specific service guide screen, and may perform a playback or download scheduling function on the content selected from the non-real time specific service guide screen.

When a high-light is moved further towards a left side than a current time displayed on the real-time (RT) specific service guide screen, the service manager may shift the RT-specific service guide screen to the non-real time (NRT) specific service guide screen. Herein, the RT-specific service guide screen may include a menu button for viewing a previous program, and the NRT-specific service guide screen may include a menu button for viewing a current program. Also, when the menu button for viewing a previous program is selected from the RT-specific service guide screen, the service manager may shift the RT-specific service guide screen to the NRT-specific service guide screen.

Herein, the service manager may sort content titles based upon an actual broadcasting time of each content, thereby displaying the sorted content titles on the NRT-specific service guide screen. Also, the service manager may sort content titles based upon a current time, thereby displaying the sorted content titles on the NRT-specific service guide screen. Alternatively, the service manager may sort content titles by category, thereby displaying the sorted content titles on the NRT-specific service guide screen.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a conceptual diagram of providing a real-time (RT) service and a non-real time (NRT) service;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between an NRT service, content item, and files;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a protocol stack for a fixed NRT service according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a bitstream syntax structure of a virtual channel table according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of service type field values in the virtual channel table of FIG. 4 and respective meanings of the values;

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of values allocated to a service type field in the virtual channel table of FIG. 4 and respective meanings of the values;

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a bitstream syntax structure of a data service table (DST) of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a procedure for obtaining access information of an IP stream that carries an NRT service signaling channel using a PSI/PSIP table according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for obtaining access information of an IP stream that carries an NRT service signaling channel using a PSI/PSIP table according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 illustrate a bitstream syntax structure of a Non-Real Time Service Table (NST) according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a bitstream syntax structure of a component_descriptor( ) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a bitstream syntax of FLUTE file delivery data using the component_descriptor( );

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 illustrate a bitstream syntax structure of a Non-Real Time Information Table (NRT-IT) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 respectively illustrate exemplary FDT XML structures according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates an RT-specific service guide screen according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 to FIG. 21 illustrate examples of a NRT service guide screen, which can be shifted from the RT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 illustrate examples of displaying codec information of a program in message formats according to the present invention;

FIG. 24 illustrates an RT-specific service guide screen according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 to FIG. 27 illustrate examples of a NRT service guide screen, which can be shifted from the RT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 24;

(a) and (b) of FIG. 28 respectively illustrate an RT-specific service guide screen according to yet another embodiment of the present invention and an exemplary detailed information screen;

(a) and (b) of FIG. 29 respectively illustrate an RT-specific service guide screen according to yet another embodiment of the present invention and an exemplary detailed information screen; and

FIG. 30 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a broadcast receiver for fixed NRT services according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the invention, which can achieve the above objects, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configuration and operation of the invention, illustrated in the drawings and described below with reference to the drawings, will be described using at least one embodiment without limiting the spirit and the essential configuration and operation of the invention.

Although most terms of elements in the present invention have been selected from general ones widely used in the art taking into consideration their functions in the invention, the terms may be changed depending on the intention or convention of those skilled in the art or the introduction of new technology. Some terms have been arbitrarily selected by the applicant and their meanings are explained in detail in the following description as needed. Thus, the definitions of the terms used in the invention should be determined based on the whole content of this specification together with the intended meanings of the terms rather than their simple names or meanings.

The term real time (RT) service used in the present invention actually means the real-time service. In other words, it is restricted in time. On the other hand, non-real time (NRT) service refers to non-real time, not RT, service. Thus, NRT service is not restricted in time. Further the data used in NRT service is referred to as NRT service data.

A broadcast receiver according to the present invention receives NRT service through terrestrial, cable, internet, and the like.

The NRT service is stored in a storage medium of the broadcast receiver and then it is displayed through a display according to a time specified by the user or at the user's request. The NRT service is received and stored in a file format according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, the storage medium is an internal HDD attached to the inner part of the broadcast receiver. In another embodiment, the storage medium may be Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory or an external HDD connected externally with the broadcast receiver.

In order to receive and store the files configuring the NRT service and provide service to the user, signaling information is needed. The signaling information is referred to NRT service signaling information or NRT service signaling data according to the present invention.

According to the method of receiving IP datagram, NRT service can be divided into Fixed NRT service and Mobile NRT service. More specifically, the Fixed NRT service is provided through fixed broadcast receiver, and Mobile NRT service is provided through mobile broadcast receiver.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, Fixed NRT service is explained in detail. However, the present invention can also be obviously applied to Mobile NRT service as well.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conceptual diagram of how a RT and an NRT service are provided.

The broadcast station, following the conventional method, transmits the current terrestrial broadcast (or mobile broadcast) RT service. At this juncture, the broadcast station may provide NRT service using the extra bandwidth or a specific bandwidth left after sending the RT service. Thus, RT service and NRT service are transmitted through a same or a different channel. Therefore, a broadcast receiver can be divided into RT service and NRT service, and in order to provide the user with the NRT service when needed, NRT service signaling information (or NRT service signaling data) is required. The NRT service signaling information (or NRT service signaling data) will be described below in detail.

For example, a broadcast station can transmit broadcast service data in real time and transmit news clips, weather information, advertisements, push VOD, or the like in non-real time. The NRT service may not only provide such news clips, weather information, advertisements, and push VOD, but may also provide specific scenes, detailed information on specific program, preview (trailer) from a real-time broadcast service.

A conventional broadcast receiver (i.e., a legacy device) can receive and process RT services but cannot receive and process NRT services. Thus, it is a principle that the process of the conventional broadcast receiver (i.e., a legacy device) is not affected by NRT stream included in the transmission of RT service. In other words, the conventional broadcast receiver does not have a method of handling the NRT service even if it is received.

However, the broadcast receiver (i.e., an NRT device) according to an embodiment of the present invention can combine NRT services and RT services to provide a variety of services to the user compared to the convention receiver.

In an embodiment, one NRT service according to the present invention includes one or more content item (or content or NRT content) and one content item includes one or more files as shown in FIG. 2. The terms “file” and “object” have the same meaning in the description of the present invention.

The content item is the minimum unit that can be presented independently. For example, when a news program, which includes an economic news section, a political news section, and a life news section, is provided in non-real time, the news program may be an NRT service and each of the economic news section, the political news section, and the life news section may be the content item. And each of the economic news section, the political news section, and the life news section may include at least one file.

The NRT service can be transmitted in an MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS) packet format through a dedicated broadcast channel or the same broadcast channel as the RT service. In this case, a unique PID is transmitted after being allocated to a TS packet of the NRT service data in order to identify the NRT service. In an embodiment of the present invention, IP-based NRT service data is packetized into an MPEG-2 TS packet for transmission.

The NRT service signaling data required to receive the NRT service data is transmitted through an NRT service signaling channel. The NRT service signaling channel is transmitted through a specific IP stream in the IP layer. Here, the IP stream is also packetized into an MPEG-2 TS packet for transmission. The NRT service signaling data transmitted through an NRT service signaling channel includes NRT Service Map Table (NST) and NRT Information Table (NRT-IT). In an embodiment of the present invention, the NST provides the access information of at least one NRT service and at least one content item/file that forms NRT services that operate in the IP layer. In one embodiment of the present invention, NRT-IT provides detailed information of the content item/file that forms NRT service. In the present invention, the NST and the NRT-IT may be referred to as Signaling Information Table.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram for a protocol stack of an NRT service configured according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the present invention, for fixed NRT service, the file-type NRT service is packetized according to an IP scheme in the IP layer and then transmitted through a specific virtual channel in an MPEG-2 TS format.

In an embodiment of the present invention, as an example of the MPEG-2 based Program Specific Information/Program and System Information Protocol (PSI/PSIP) table, the presence of the NRT service or the identification information of the NRT service may be signaled through the virtual channel in the Virtual Channel Table (VCT).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the NRT service signaling channel that transmits NRT service signaling data which signals the access information of the IP based NRT service is transmitted in an MPEG-2 TS format after being packetized according to an IP stream in the IP layer through a specific virtual channel.

More specifically, in the broadcast station, NRT content/files are packetized according to a file transfer protocol scheme and are again packetized according to an Asynchronous Layered Coding/Layered Coding Transport (ALC/LCT) scheme as shown in FIG. 3. The packetized ALC/LCT data is again packetized according to an UDP scheme and the packetized ALC/LCT/UDP data is again packetized into ALC/LCT/UDP/IP data according to an IP scheme. In the present invention, the packetized ALC/LCT/UDP/IP data is referred to as an “IP datagram” for ease of explanation.

In addition, NRT service signaling data required to receive the NRT content/files is transmitted through an NRT service signaling channel. Here, the NRT service signaling channel is packetized according to a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) scheme and the packetized UDP data is again packetized into UDP/IP data according to an IP scheme. In the present invention, the UDP/IP data is also referred to as an “IP datagram” for ease of explanation. In an embodiment, multicast of the NRT service signaling channel is achieved after being encapsulated in an IP datagram having a well-known IP destination address and a well-known destination UDP port number.

In an embodiment of the present invention, IP datagrams of the NRT service signaling channel and the NRT service are encapsulated in an addressable section structure and again packetized in an MPEG-2 TS format. So, one addressable section structure has a format in which a section header and a CRC checksum are added to one IP datagram. This addressable section structure format complies with a Digital Storage Media Command and Control (DSM-CC) section format for private data transmission. Thus, the addressable section is also referred to as a “DSM-CC addressable section.” A 188-byte MPEG-2 TS packet can be created by dividing the addressable section data into 184-byte units and adding a 4-byte MPEG header to each 184-byte unit. At this time, a value allocated to a PID of the MPEG header is a unique value that can identify TS packets that carry the NRT service signaling channel and the NRT service.

Program Specific Information (PSI) and Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) table section data is also packetized into MPEG-2 TS packets.

An embodiment of the PSI table may include a Program Map Table (PMT), a Program Association Table (PAT), or the like and an embodiment of the PSIP table may include a Virtual Channel Table (VCT), a System Time Table (STT), a Rating Region Table (RRT), an Extended Text Table (ETT), a Direct Channel Change Table (DCCT), a Direct Channel Change Selection Code Table (DCCSCT), an Event Information Table (EIT), and a Master Guide Table (MGT).

The MPEG-2 TS packets are modulated according to a predetermined transmission scheme, for example, a VSB transmission scheme, in a physical layer and are then transmitted to the reception system.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the transmission of an NRT service is determined by signaling through a PSI/PSIP table. For example, whether or not an NRT service is transmitted is signaled in a Virtual Channel Table (VCT).

FIG. 4 illustrates a syntax structure of the Virtual Channel Table (VCT) section according to an embodiment.

The VCT section, taking information about the virtual channel for example, transmits information of channel information for channel selection and PID information for receiving audio and/or video. Thus, when the VCT section is parsed, the PID of the audio and video of the broadcast program transmitted within the channel along with the channel number and channel name is known.

The VCT section syntax includes at least one of table_id field, section_syntax_indicator field, private_indicator field, section_length field, transport_stream_id field, version_number field, current_next_indicator field, section_number field, last_section_number field, protocol_version field, num_channels_in_section field.

The VCT section syntax further includes first ‘for’ loop (virtual channel loop) which repeats for the number indicated in the num_channels_in_section field value, the first loop includes at least one of short_name field, major_channel_number field, minor_channel_number field, modulation_mode field, carrier_frequency field, channel_TSID field, program_number field, ETM_location field, access_controlled field, hidden field, service_type field, source_id field, descriptor_length field, or second ‘for’ loop which repeats for the number of the descriptors included in the first loop. For the convenience of explanation in the present invention, the second loop is referred to as the first descriptor loop. The descriptor( ) included in the first descriptor loop is a descriptor applied in each virtual channel.

The VCT section syntax may further include a third ‘for’ loop which repeats for the number of value indicated by additional_descriptor_length field and the number of descriptor added in the VCT section. For the convenience of explanation in the present invention, the third loop is referred to as the second descriptor loop. The additional_descriptors( ) included in the second descriptor loop is applied to all the descriptors described in the virtual channel of the VCT section.

A table_id field illustrated in FIG. 4 indicates a unique identifier or identification (ID) which identifies that the information transmitted through the table is VCT. More specifically, the table_id field indicates a value informing that the table corresponding to this section is a VCT. For example, a 0xC8 value may be given to the table_id field.

A version_number field indicates the version number of the VCT, the section_number field indicates the number of this section, and the last_section_number field indicates the number of the last_section of a complete VCT. The num_channels_in_section field designates the number of the overall virtual channel existing within the VCT section.

A short_name field in the first ‘for’ loop indicates the name of a virtual channel. The major_channel_number field indicates a ‘major’ channel number associated with the virtual channel defined within the first loop and the minor_channel_number field indicates ‘minor’ channel number. Thus, each channel number should be connected to the major and minor_channel_numbers, and the major and minor_channel_numbers are used as user reference numbers for the corresponding virtual channel.

A program_number field is shown for connecting the virtual channel having an MPEG-2 program association table (PAT) and program map table (PMT), and matches the program number within the PAT/PMT. Here, the PAT describes the elements of a program corresponding to each program number, and the PAT indicates the PID of a transport packet transmitting the PMT. The PMT describes the affiliated information and the PID list of the transport packet in which the identification number and the audio/video information of a program is transmitted in bit sequence.

A service_type field indicates the service type within the corresponding virtual channel.

In an embodiment, the virtual channel may include at least one RT service and at least one NRT service including audio and/or video.

In this case, service type values may be allocated as shown in FIG. 5 and a value of 0x04 representing an ATSC-data-only service may be used to indicate that an NRT service is provided through the virtual channel.

In another embodiment, the virtual channel may only include one or more NRT service. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 6, a new service_type field value of 0x08 may be defined to indicate that an NRT service is provided through the virtual channel.

A source_id field indicates a program source connected to the corresponding virtual channel.

The term “source” refers to a specific source such as a video, text, data or audio source. The source_id field has a unique value in a transport stream in which a VCT is transmitted.

On the other hand, data service table (DST) may be received through PID included in the service_location_descriptor of the VCT, and through the DST, the types of the application and the detailed information of the data broadcast stream transmitted through the channel is known.

In the present invention, NRT application (NRT service) is identified through the DST.

FIG. 7 illustrates the DST section syntax structure according to an embodiment.

A sdf_protocol_version field (8-bit) indicates the version of the Service Description Framework protocol.

An application_count_in_section field (8-bit) indicates the number of applications listed within the DST section.

A compatibility_descriptor( ) field indicates that the corresponding structure includes DSM-CC compatible descriptor. The object is to signal the compatibility requests of the application of the platform received to determine the ability to use the corresponding data service.

An app_id_byte_length field (16-bit) indicates the number of bytes used to identify the application.

An app_id_description field (16-bit) indicates the format and the semantics of the next application identification bytes. As described in the table 1 below, ‘0x0003’ is newly assigned to identify that the corresponding application is an NRT application. The assigned value of ‘0x0003’ is just an exemplary value and the scope of this application is not limited to the value.

TABLE 1 Value Application Identifier Format 0x0000 DASE application 0x0001 ATSC reserved 0x0002 ATSC A/92 Application 0x0003 NRT Application 0x0004- ATSC reserved 0x7FFF 0x8000- User private 0xFFFF

An app_id_byte field (8-bit) describes the byte of the application identifier.

A tap_count field (8-bit) indicates the number of Tap( ) structure used by the corresponding application.

A protocol_encapsulation field (8-bit) indicates the type of the protocol encapsulation used to transmit the specific data element in reference with the Tap( ) field.

An action_type field (7-bit) instructs the character of the data in reference with the Tap( ) field.

A resource_location field (1-bit) indicates the location of the association_tag field that matches the association_tag value listed within the next Tap structure. If the value of the corresponding field is ‘0,’ then the matching association_tag exist in the PMT of the current MPEG-2 program. Oppositely, if the value is ‘1,’ then the matching association_tag exists in the DSM-CC Resource Descriptor in the Network Resources Table of the corresponding data service.

A Tap( ) field, for example, is defined in a unique structure including the following. The tap_id field (16-bit) is used by the application to identify the data elements. The range of the value of tap_id is determined by the app_id_byte fields related to Tap( ) within the DST. The value of tap_id is selected by the data service provider. Further, it is used in application to handle the data elements.

A Use field (16-bit) is used to specify the communication channel referenced by the association_tag.

An association_tag field (16-bit) uniquely identifies one from the listed DSM-CC resource descriptor within the Network Resource Table or listed data elementary stream within the PMT.

A Selector( ) field indicates a unique data element that can be used in the communication channel referenced by association_tag field or in the data elementary stream.

A tap_info_length field (16-bit) indicates the number of bytes of the descriptors of the next field of the corresponding field.

A tap_info_length field (16-bit) indicates the number of bytes of the descriptors of the next field of the corresponding field.

An app_info_length field (8-bit) indicates number of bytes of the descriptor of the next corresponding field.

A descriptor( ) field follows the descriptor format.

An app_data_length field (16-bit) indicates length of the app_data_byte fields in bytes.

An app_data_byte (8-bit) describes the private data fields different from input parameters associated with the application as 1 byte.

A service_info_length field (8-bit) indicates number of byte unit of the next descriptors.

A descriptor( ) field follows the descriptor format.

A service_private_data_length field (16-bit) indicates length of byte unit of the private fields.

A service_private_data_byte field (8-bit) describes the private fields as 1 byte.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method in which an NRT service is received and provided using an ATSC A/90 standard for carrying (or transmitting) a data broadcast stream and an ATSC A/92 standard for transmitting an IP multicast stream in a broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

Namely, information of a stream that constitutes each virtual channel is signaled in an ES_loop of a PMT or a service location descriptor of a VCT. For example, an NRT service stream can be transmitted through the virtual channel in the case where the service type of the VCT is 0x02 (i.e., digital A/V Data), 0x04 (i.e., data only), or 0x08 (i.e., NRT only service), as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6. At this time, when the stream_type field included in the service location descriptor (or the ES loop of the PMT) has a value allocated 0x95 (i.e., DST transmission), this indicates that a data broadcast is transmitted. A normal A/V is transmitted if the service location descriptor has no value for stream_type field or does not have a value of 0x95 allocated. Therefore, if the stream_type field included in the service location descriptor has a value of 0x95, the Elementary_PID field value is a PID of a Data Service Table (DST). Thus, the DST can be received through the Elementary_PID field.

The type of the application and details of a data broadcast stream transmitted through this channel can be determined through the DST. In the present invention, an NRT application (i.e., an NRT service) is identified using the DST.

That is, an App_id_description field of the DST specifies the format and analysis of application identification bytes subsequent to this field. In an embodiment of the present invention, ‘0x0003’ is allocated to the App_id_description field in order to identify the NRT application. The illustrated value (number) is only an example and does not limit the scope of the present invention.

If the App_id_description field value is ‘0x0003’, an Application_id_byte value subsequent to this field is a service ID of the NRT application. A service ID of the NRT application may have a URI value that globally and uniquely identifies the corresponding service.

After the NRT application is identified as described above, a PID of an MPEG-2 TS packet separated from the IP datagram of the NRT service signaling channel is located through the Tap information. Then, an IP datagram that carries the NRT service signaling channel can be obtained from MPEG-2 TS packets having the PID found through the tap information and NRT service signaling data can be obtained from the obtained IP datagram. Here, well-known IP access information, i.e., a well-known IP address and a well-known UDP port number can be used as the IP access information of the NRT service signaling channel.

That is, an asynchronous IP stream is transmitted if a Protocol_encapsulation field value in the DST is 0x04 and a device_id value indicating the destination address is transmitted through a selector_bytes value if a Selector_type field value is 0x0102. A multiprotocol_encapsulation_descriptor is used in order to accurately analyze the selector_bytes value and signals the number of valid bytes included in the device_id value. As a result, IP multicasts address (or address range) of the NRT service signaling channel transmitted through the PID can be determined through the Tap information.

Accordingly, the IP multicast address (or address range) is accessed and an IP stream, i.e., an IP packet, is received and NRT service signaling data is extracted from the received IP packet.

NRT service data, i.e., NRT content/files, is received based on the extracted NRT service signaling data and the received data can be stored in a storage medium or can be displayed on a display.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the NRT service can be signaled using a new value, for example, 0x96 instead of 0x95 as the stream type field value of the DST. This embodiment aims to eliminate the risk that the conventional receiver may malfunction with the NRT service which is a new application, in the case where the conventional receiver operates by determining whether or not a data broadcast stream is present based only on whether or not a stream having a stream type value of 0x95 is present. In this case, if a new stream type is defined, it will be possible to allow the conventional receiver to ignore this stream type, thereby guaranteeing backward compatibility.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the process of NRT service signaling data and the process of extracting the NRT service data.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the service type field in the VCT has a value of 0x08 as in FIG. 6, indicating that at least one NRT service is transmitted through the relevant virtual channel.

After a power of a receiver has been turned on, if a default channel or a channel by a user is selected (S1001), the receiver receives a VCT or a PMT (S1002). And then the receiver determines whether NRT service exists or not by parsing the VCT (S1003). This can be done through looking at the service_type in the received virtual channel loop within the VCT. The (S1001) step is processed in the tuner and the (S1002)/(S1003) step is processed in the PSI/PSIP section handler.

For instance, if a value of the service_type is not set to ‘0x08’, the relevant virtual channel will not transmit NRT service. The virtual channel will then transmit conventional service (i.e., legacy ATSC service), the receiver processes according to the information included in the virtual channel.

If the service_type field has a value of 0x08, the virtual channel will transmit NRT service. In such a case, service location descriptor in the virtual channel of the VCT is parsed to extract the PID of DST (S1004). Then, using the extracted PID, DST is received (S1005). The (S1004) and (S1005) step is processed through the demultiplexer controlled by the service manager.

It is then determined whether the corresponding service provided on the selected channel is an NRT service from the received DST (S1006).

The determination of a presence of the NRT service can be performed by checking the value of the App_id_description field.

For instance, the value of the App_id_description is set to ‘0x0003,’ in this present invention to identify that the service is an NRT application (i.e., NRT service). The value (number) is only an example and will not limit the scope of the present invention.

If the value of the App_id_description field is ‘0x0003,’ the value of the subsequent Application_id_byte becomes the value of service ID of the NRT application (i.e., NRT service). As a result of identifying the NRT application, a Tap is extracted to locate the PID of the MPEG-2 TS packet separated from the IP datagram of the NRT service signaling channel (S1007). And, stream PID including association_tag of the Tap is extracted from the PMT (S1008). The steps of (S1006) to (S1008) are processed by the service manager or the PSI/PSIP section handler.

After receiving and decapsulating the MPEG-2 TS packets corresponding to the stream PID, i.e., removing the MPEG-2 header, a DSM-CC addressable section is recovered (S1009). This process is handled by the addressable section handler.

Subsequently, after removing section header and CRC checksum from the DSM-CC addressable section, IP datagram transmitting the NRT service signaling channel is recovered (S1010), and the NRT service signaling data is obtained from the recovered IP datagram (S1011). At this time, the access information of the IP datagram transmitting the NRT service signaling channel is received from a well-known destination IP address and well-known destination UDP port number.

If a value of Protocol_encapsulation in the DST is set to ‘0x04’, an asynchronous IP datagram is transferred. If Selector_type is set to ‘0x0102’, a value of device_id indicating a destination address is delivered via selector_bytes. In order to accurately analyze the value of the selector_bytes, multiprotocol_encapsulation_descriptor is used and the number of the valid byte within the device_id is signaled. As a result, the IP Multicast address (or address range) of the NRT service signaling channel transmitted through PID of the Tap information is known.

Thus, by accessing the IP Multicast address (or address range), IP stream, i.e., IP packet is received, and the NRT service signaling data is extracted from the IP packet.

Based on the extracted NRT service signaling data, NRT service data, i.e., NRT content item/files can be received and stored in a storage unit or can be displayed through a display.

In an embodiment, the NRT service signaling data transmitted through the NRT service signaling channel may include NRT Service Map Table (or Service Table: NST) and NRT Information Table (NRT-IT).

In an embodiment, IP datagrams of the NST and NRT-IT has the same well-known IP address and well-known UDP port number. Therefore, the determination of NST and NRT-IT included in the NRT service signaling data is done through table identifier. Thus, the table identifier can be the table_id of the corresponding table or the header of the table section, and when necessary, table_id_extension can be referred to in order to identify the table.

NRT Service Map Table (NST)

The NST provides access information of the NRT service. In an embodiment, the NST has a similar table to the MPEG-2 Private section format.

The NST provides access information of IP based NRT services included in the virtual channel. For example, the NST provides access information of each FLUTE sessions that configures one NRT service.

Here, whether one NST is configured with one session or plurality of sessions is determined through the table_id field, section_number field, last_section_number field, and the like. And the table may be completed by removing the IP header and the UDP header of the IP datagrams of the NRT service signaling channel and gathering sections having the same table identifier. For example, by gathering the sections having table identifier allocated for NST, the NST is completed.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 illustrate a bitstream syntax structure of an NST section according to an embodiment of the present invention. The detail of each field of the NST section is explained in the following.

Although the syntax is written in an MPEG-2 private section format for better understanding, the data may be in any format. For example, it is possible to use another method in which the syntax is expressed in a Session Description Protocol (SDP) format and is then signaled through a Session Announcement Protocol (SAP).

In FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, a table_id field includes an 8-bit unsigned integer number that indicates the type of table section being defined in NRT Service Table (NST).

A section_syntax_indicator is a 1-bit field that shall be set to ‘0’ to always indicate that this table is derived from the “short” form of the MPEG-2 private section table.

A private_indicator (1-bit) indicates whether the type of the corresponding section follows the private section type or not. (This field that shall be set to ‘1’)

A section_length is a 12-bit field. It specifies the number of remaining bytes this table section immediately following this field. The value in this field shall not exceed 4093 (0xFFD)).

A table_id_extension field is a 16-bit field and is table-dependent. It shall be considered to be logically part of the table_id field providing the scope for the remaining fields. The table_id_extension field includes NST_protocol_version fields.

The NST_protocol_version field is an 8-bit unsigned integer field whose function is to allow, in the future, this NST to carry parameters that may be structured differently than those defined in the current protocol. At present, the value for the NST_protocol_version field shall be zero. Non-zero values of NST_protocol_version may be used by a future version of this standard to indicate structurally different tables.

A version_number field (5-bit) indicates the version number of the NST.

A current_next_indicator field is a one-bit indicator, which when se to ‘1’ shall indicate that the NST sent is currently applicable. When the bit is set to ‘0’, it shall indicate that the table sent is not yet applicable and will be the next table to become valid. This standard imposes no requirement that “next” tables (those with current_next_indicator set to ‘0’) must be sent. An update to the currently applicable table shall be signaled by incrementing the version_number field).

A section_number field is an 8-bit field that shall give the section number of this NST section. The section_number field of the first section in an NST shall be ‘0x00’. The section_number field shall be incremented by 1 with each additional section in the NST.

A last_section_number field is an 8-bit field that shall give the number of the last section (i.e., the section with the highest section_number) of the NST of which this section is a part).

A num_NRT_services field is an 8-bit field that specifies the number of services in this NST section.

A ‘for’ loop, which is also referred to as an “NRT service loop”, is executed for the number of times as the number of NRT services corresponding to the num_NRT_services field value in providing signaling information of a plurality of NRT services. Thus, signaling information of the corresponding NRT service is indicated for each of the NRT services included in the NST section. Here, the following field information may be provided for each NRT service.

An NRT_service_id field is a 16-bit unsigned integer number that shall uniquely identify this NRT service within the scope of this NRT section. The NRT_service_id field of a service shall not change throughout the life of the service. To avoid confusion, it is recommended that if a service is terminated, then the NRT_service_id field for the service should not be used for another service until after a suitable interval of time has elapsed.

An NRT_service_status field is a 2-bit enumerated field that shall identify the status of this NRT Service. The most significant bit shall indicate whether this NRT Service is active (when set to ‘1’) or inactive (when set to ‘0’) and the least significant bit shall indicate whether this NRT Service is hidden (when set to ‘1’) or not (when set to ‘0’). Hidden services are normally used for proprietary applications, and ordinary receiving devices should ignore them.

A SP_indicator field is a 1-bit field that indicates when set to 1, service protection is applied to at least one of the components needed to provide a meaningful presentation of this NRT Service.

A Short_NRT_service_name_length field (3-bit) instructs the number of byte pairs within the Short_NRT_service_name field.

A Short_NRT_service_name filed (16*m bit) indicates a short name of the NRT service. This field may be filled with null data (for example, 0x00) when the NRT service has no short name.

An NRT_service_category field is a 6-bit enumerated type field that shall identify the type of service carried in the NRT.

A num_components field is a 5-bit field that specifies that number of IP stream components in this NRT Service.

An IP_version_flag is a 1-bit indicator, which when set to ‘0’ shall indicate that source_IP_address, NRT_service_destination_IP_address, and component_destination_IP_address fields are IPv4 addresses. The value of ‘1’ for this field is reserved for possible future indication that source_IP_address, NRT_service_destination_IP_address, and component_destination_IP_address fields are for IPv6.

A source_IP_address_flag field is a 1-bit Boolean flag that shall indicate, when set, that a source IP address value for this NRT Service is present to indicate a source specific multicast.

An NRT_service_destination_IP_address_flag field is a 1-bit Boolean flag that indicates, when set to ‘1’, that an NRT_service_destination_IP_address field value is present, to serve as the default IP address for the components of this NRT Service.

A source_IP_address field is a 32 or a 128 bit field that shall be present if the source_IP_address_flag field is set to ‘1’ and shall not be present if the source_IP_address_flag field is set to ‘0’. If present, this field shall contain the source IP address of all the IP datagrams carrying the components of this NRT Service. The conditional use of the 128 bit-long address version of this field is to facilitate possible use of IPv6 in the future, although use of IPv6 is not currently defined.

An NRT_service_destination_IP_address field is a 32 or a 128 bit field that shall be present if the NRT_service_destination_IP_address_flag field is set to ‘1’ and shall not be present if the NRT_service_destination_IP_address field is not present, then the component_destination_IP_address field shall be present for each component in the num_components loop. The conditional use of the 128 bit-long address version of this field is to facilitate possible use of IPv6 in the future, although use of IPv6 is not currently defined.

A ‘for’ loop, which will also be referred to as a “component loop,” is executed as much as the number of times as the number of components corresponding to the num_components field value to provide access information of a plurality of components. This provides access information of each component included in the NRT service. Here, the following field information may be provided for each component. In an embodiment, one component corresponds to one FLUTE session.

An essential_component_indicator field is a 1-bit indicator which, when set to ‘1’, shall indicate that this component is an essential component for the NRT Service. Otherwise, this field indicates that this component is an optional component.

A port_num_count is a 6-bit field that shall indicate the number of destination UDP ports associated with this UDP/IP stream component. The values of the destination UDP port numbers shall start from the component_destination_UDP_port_num field and shall be incremented by one.

A component_destination_IP_address_flag field is a 1-bit Boolean flag that shall indicate, when set to ‘1’, that the component_destination_IP_address field is present for this component.

A component_destination_IP_address field (32 or 128 bit) shall be present if the component_destination_IP_address_flag field is set to ‘1’ and shall not be present if the component_destination_IP_address_flag field is set to ‘0’. When this field is present, the destination address of the IP datagrams carrying this component of the NRT Service shall match the address in this field. When this field is not present, the destination address of the IP datagrams carrying this component shall match the address in the NRT_service_destination_IP_address field. The conditional use of the 128 bit-long address version of this field is to facilitate possible use of IPv6 in the future, although use of IPv6 is not currently defined.

A component_destination_UDP_port_num field is a 16-bit unsigned integer field that represents the destination UDP port number for this UDP/IP stream component.

A num_component_level_descriptors field (4-bit) indicates the number of descriptors providing the additional information of the component level.

The same number of the component_level_descriptor( ) is included in the component loop providing additional information as the number of the field value of the num_component_level_descriptors.

A num_NRT_service_level_descriptors field (4-bit) indicates the number of descriptors that provide additional information about the NRT service level.

The same number of the NRT_service_level_descriptor( ) are included in NRT service loop as the number of the field value of num_NRT_service_level_descriptors to provide additional information about the NRT service.

A num_virtual_channel_level_descriptors field (4-bit) indicates the number of descriptors which provides additional information about the virtual channel level.

The same number of virtual_channel_level_descriptor( ) included in the virtual channel loop as the number of the field value of the num_virtual_channel_level_descriptors to provide additional information of the virtual channel.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a bitstream syntax structure of a component_level_descriptors( ) The component_descriptor( ) is used as one of the component level descriptor component_level_descriptors( ) of the NST and describes additional signaling information of the corresponding component.

The following is a description of each field of the component_descriptor( )

In FIG. 12, a descriptor_tag field (8-bit) is a descriptor identifier and it can be set as an identifier that identifies the component_descriptor( )

A descriptor_length field (8-bit) describes the remaining length of the descriptor starting after the descriptor_length field and to the end of this descriptor, in bytes.

A component_type field (7-bit) shall identify the encoding format of the component. The value may be any of the values assigned by IANA for the payload_type of an RTP/AVP stream, or it may be any of the values assigned by ATSC, or it may be a “dynamic value” in the range 96-127. For components consisting of media carried via RTP, the value of this field shall match the value in the payload_type field in the RTP header of the IP stream carrying this component. Note that additional values of the component_type field in the range of 43-71 can be defined in future versions of this standard.

A component_encryption_flag (1-bit) informs whether the corresponding component is encrypted or not.

A Num_STKM_streams field (8-bit) indicates the number STKM streams if component_encryption_flag has been encrypted. (The num_STKM_streams field (8-bit) is an 8-bit unsigned integer field that shall identify the number of STKM streams associated with this component.

A STKM_stream_id field (8-bit) is repeated as much as the field value of Num_STKM_streams and indicates a value that identifies a STKM stream that can acquire a key required for decryption.

An NRT_component_data (component_type) element provides the encoding parameters and/or other parameters necessary for rendering this component. The structure of the component_data is determined by the value of component_type field.

For example, if the component_type field value is 35 then NRT_component_data (component_type) field provides component data for H.264/AVC video stream.

In another example, if the component_type field value is 38 then NRT_component_data (component_type) field provides data for FLUTE file delivery as shown in FIG. 13.

One NRT service can be included in multiple FLUTE sessions. Thus, one NRT service may be configured with plurality of FLUTE sessions. Each FLUTE session may be signaled using NRT_component_data( ) as shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the bitstream syntax structure of NRT_component_data( ) that provides data for FLUTE file delivery according to the present invention. The following explains each field in the NRT_component_data( )

A TSI field (16-bit unsigned integer) shall be the Transport Session Identifier (TSI) of FLUTE session.

A session_start_time field (16-bit) indicates the start time of the FLUTE session. If the field values are all ‘0’, then it can be interpreted that the FLUTE session has already begun.

A session_end_time field (16-bit) indicates the end time of the FLUTE session. If the field values are all ‘0,’ then it can be interpreted that the FLUTE session continues for unlimited amount of time.

A tias_bandwidth_indicator field (1-bit) flags the inclusion of TIAS bandwidth information. This bit shall be set to ‘1’ to indicate the TIAS bandwidth field is present, and it shall be set to ‘0’ to indicate the TIAS bandwidth field is absent.

An as_bandwidth_indicator field (1-bit) flags the inclusion of AS bandwidth information. This bit shall be set to ‘1’ to indicate the AS bandwidth field is present, and it shall be set to ‘0’ to indicate the AS bandwidth field is absent.

A FEC_OTI_indicator field (1-bit) indicates whether FEC Object Transmission Information is provided.

A tias_bandwidth field (16-bit) exists when the as_bandwidth_indicator field value is set to ‘1’ and it indicates the maximum bandwidth. Also, it shall be one one-thousandth of the Transport Independent Application Specific maximum bandwidth as defined in RFC 3890, rounded up to the next highest integer if necessary. This gives the TIAS bandwidth in kilobits per second.

An as_bandwidth field (16-bit) exists when the as_bandwidth_indicator field value is set to ‘1’ and it indicates the maximum AS bandwidth. Also, this value shall be the Application Specific maximum bandwidth as defined in RFC 4566. This gives the AS bandwidth in kilobits per second.

A FEC_encoding_id field exits when the FEC_OTI_indicator field value is set to ‘1’ and indicates FEC ID used in corresponding FLUTE session. (FEC encoding ID used in this FLUTE session, as defined in RFC 3926).

A FEC_instance_id field exists when the FEC_OTI_indicator field value is set to ‘1’ and indicates FEC instance ID used in the corresponding FLUTE session. (FEC instance ID used in this FLUTE session, as defined in RFC 3926).

The information necessary to receive FLUTE session is provided by signaling the parameters through the NRT_component_data( ) of the component_descriptor( ) within the component loop.

In other words, according to the time information set by the session_start_time field and the session_end_time field, the corresponding FLUTE session is opened and files and the FDT (File Description Table) that describes the signaling information of the files that configures NRT service (or content) is received. The FDT is used to transmit the list of all the content items, and also provides information necessary in acquiring content item and the files included in the content item.

For example, each file configuring a content item may be identified by using a Content-Location indicated in an FDT of a FLUTE session. The Content-Location indicates an identifier that can identify the corresponding file. Herein, the Content-Location is configured in an anyURI (Uniform Resource Identifier) format. More specifically, the Content-Location value is a locator including the file name.

At this point, a content linkage identifying the corresponding content item may be allocated (or assigned) for each file level or instance level of the FDT. In this case, each file may be identified by using content linkage, transfer object identifier (TOI), and Content-Location values indicated in the FDT of the FLUTE session. Herein, the content linkage corresponds to an identifier that can identify the content item, and the TOI corresponds to an identifier that can identify a transport object, i.e., file being transmitted through the FLUTE session. For example, when the TOI value is equal to ‘0’, the file corresponds to the FDT. More specifically, the TOI value of each file configuring the content item is greater than ‘0’.

NRT Information Table (NRT-IT)

FIGS. 14 and 15 are bitstream syntax of an NRT-IT section according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The bit-stream syntax of the NRT-IT section is described in MPEG-2 Private section format for ease of understanding the bit-stream syntax of the NRT-IT section, but the format of the data can be in other formats as well. For example, signaling through Session Announcement Protocol (SAP) described by Session Description Protocol (SDP) type is also possible.

An NRT-IT of NRT service signaling data according to an embodiment of the present invention includes information describing a downloadable content item to store a content item in a broadcast receiver.

Here, the determination whether one NRT-IT is configured through one section or plurality of sections can be known through the table_id field, section_number field, last_section_number field, and the like, within the NRT-IT section. And the table may be completed by removing the IP header and the UDP header of the IP datagrams of the NRT service signaling channel and gathering sections having the same table identifier. For example, by gathering the sections having table identifier allocated for NRT-IT, the NRT-IT is completed.

The detailed description of the NRT-IT section fields illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 are described below.

A table_id field (8-bit) is set to 0xTBD to identify this table section as belonging to the Non-Real-Time Information Table.

A service_id field (16-bit) specifies the service_id field associated with the NRT service offering content items described in this section.

An NRT_IT_version_number field (5-bit) indicates the version number of this NRT-IT instance, where NRT-IT instance is defined as the set of one or more NRT_information_table_section( ) having common values for service_id field, current_next_indicator field, protocol_version field, and time_span_start field. The version number is incremented by 1 modulo 32 when any field in the NRT-IT instance changes.

A current_next_indicator field (1-bit) is always set to ‘1’ for NRT-IT sections; the NRT-IT sent is always currently applicable.

A protocol_version field (8-bit) is set to zero. The function of protocol_version field is to allow, in the future, this table type to carry parameters that may be structured differently than those defined in the current protocol. At present, the only valid value for protocol_version field is zero. Non-zero values of protocol_version field may be used by a future version of this standard to indicate structurally different tables.

A time_span_start field (32-bit) represents the start of the time span covered by this instance of the NRT-IT, expressed as the number of GPS seconds since 00:00:00 UTC, Jan. 6, 1980. The time of day of time_span_start field is aligned to minute 00 of the hour. The value zero for time_span_start field indicates the time period covered by his NRT-IT instance began in the indefinite past. The value of time_span_start field is the same for each section of a multi-sectioned NRT-IT instance. The values of time_span_start field and time_span_length field are set such that the specified time span does not overlap with any other NRT-IT instance in this IP subnet.

A time_span_length field (11-bit) indicates the number of minutes, starting at the time indicated by time_span_start field, covered by this instance of the NRT-IT. Once established, the value of time_span_length field for a given value of time_span_start field does not change. A value of time_span_length field of zero means this NRT-IT instance covers all time starting at time_span_start field into the indefinite future. If the value of time_span_start is zero, time_span_length field has no meaning. The value of time_span_length field is the same for each section of a multi-sectioned NRT-IT instance. The values of time_span_start field and time_span length field are set such that the specified time span does not overlap with any other NRT-IT instance in this IP subnet.

A num_items_in_section field (8-bit) indicates the number of content items described in this NRT-IT section.

The ‘for’ loop (also referred to as content item loop) is executed for number of content items corresponding to the value of the num_items_in_section field and provides signaling information about plurality of content items. Thus, the signaling information of the content item of each content item included in the NRT service corresponding to the service_id field value is indicated. The following describes the field in each content item that may provide the information.

The content_linkage field is a 32-bit field having a value ranging from 0x0001 to 0xFFFF. The content_linkage field indicates an identification number of the corresponding content (or content item). Herein, the value 0x0000 is not used. The content_linkage field performs two linkage functions. One linkage function is to link the metadata included in an NRT-IT with at least one or more files included in an FLUTE FDT, which is associated with the NRT service. The other linkage function is to form a TF_id field, i.e., an identifier for a Text Fragment in a Text Fragment Table. The value of the content_linkage field corresponds to one of the values of the FDT-Content-Linkage elements or to one of the values of the File-Content-Linkage elements within the FLUTE FDT for each of the files associated with the content item. The precedence rules may be applied when matching each content_linkage value with the corresponding content linkage elements in the FLUTE FDT.

An updates_available field (1-bit) indicates whether the corresponding content item is updated. For example, when the content item is included in an NRT service that is ended after once service, the field is set to ‘0’. When the content item is one more updated, the field is set to ‘1’. That is, the updates_available field specifies, when set to ‘1,’ that the referenced content item(s) will be updated. When the updates_available field is set to ‘0,’ updates are not expected to be provided for the associated content item(s), and broadcast receivers are not expected to look for them.

A TF_available field is Boolean flag, this field specifies, when set to ‘1’ that a Text Fragment is present in a Text Fragment Table in the service signaling channel. When the field is set to ‘0,’ no Text Fragment is included in the service signaling channel for this content item.

A low_latency field is Boolean flag, this field specifies, when set to ‘1,’ that the content is available within the current digital transport with a low enough latency that its retrieval should be attempted while the user waits. When the field is set to ‘0’, retrieval latency is longer and the user interface should suggest to the user to return later for viewing.

A playback_length_in_seconds field (20-bit) specifies the duration of playback of the content, in seconds. For content consisting only of text and/or still images, the value zero is used. For content that includes audio or audio/video content, the playback_length_in_seconds field indicates the playback length of the audio or audio/video content.

A content_length_included field is Boolean flag, this field indicates, when set to ‘1,’ that the content_length field is present in this iteration of the “for” loop. Setting this field to ‘0’ indicates the content_length field is not present in this iteration of the “for” loop.

A playback_delay_included field is Boolean flag, this field indicates, when set to ‘1,’ that the playback_delay field is present in this iteration of the “for” loop. Setting this field to ‘0’ indicates the playback_delay field is not present in this iteration of the “for” loop.

An expiration_included field is Boolean flag, this field indicates, when set to ‘1,’ that the expiration field is present in this iteration of the “for” loop. Setting this field to ‘0’ indicates the expiration field is not present in this iteration of the “for” loop.

A duration field (12-bit) in the range 1 to 2880 specifies the expected cycle time, in minutes, of the carousel containing the referenced content item. A broadcast receiver is expected to use the duration parameter to determine the amount of time needed to capture the referenced content.

A content_length field (40-bit), when present, represents the total size in bytes of the content item or items. This item is used by the broadcast receiver to determine if enough memory is available to store it before downloading is attempted.

A playback_delay field (20-bit) counts of the number of seconds following reception of the first byte of the associated content the broadcast receiver waits before playback may start, while buffering the incoming stream. A value of zero indicates playback may commence immediately. When playback_delay field is not provided, the broadcast receiver is expected to retrieve the complete file or file set prior to playback.

An expiration field is a 32-bit field, which indicates an expiration time of the corresponding content.

A content_name_length field is an 8-bit field, which indicates the total length of the subsequent content_name_text( ) field in byte units. The content_name_text( ) field specifies a title of a corresponding content (or content item) in a multiple string structure (MSS).

A content_descriptors_length field is a 12-bit field, which indicates the total length of the subsequent content_descriptor( ) field in byte units.

The content_descriptor( ) field corresponds to a descriptor providing additional information on a content level, the content_descriptor( ) field being individually applied to each content (or content item).

A descriptors_length field is a 10-bit field, which indicates the total length of the subsequent descriptor( ) field in byte units.

The descriptor( ) field is commonly applied to all contents (or content items) being described in the current NRT-IT section.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, information (or parameter) essentially required for rendering content/files, which configure the NRT service, e.g., encoding information and decoding parameters applied to the video, audio, and so on, included in an NRT service or content, is transmitted to the broadcast receiver. For example, the encoding information may correspond to codec information of the video and audio included in the NRT service or content.

The encoding information and decoding parameter may be signaled through an in-line field of the descriptor, thereby being transmitted, or may be signaled through an in-line field of the NST or NRT-IT, thereby being transmitted. At this point, the descriptor is included in any one of a FLUTE session level or NRT service level, or component level or content level.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the encoding information and decoding parameter are provided in text formats expressed as a multi-purpose Internet mail extensions (MIME) type. More specifically, the broadcast receiver according to the present invention indicates and transmits the encoding information and decoding parameter in a text format.

Meanwhile, an NRT service according to the present invention includes at least one or more contents (or content items or NRT contents), as shown in FIG. 2, and one content includes at least one or more files.

And, the files included in the content are provided to the NRT through the FLUTE session. However, the files included in the content may be provided not only through the FLUTE session, but also through the Internet.

At this point, according to an embodiment of the present invention, Internet access information of the content is provided through a content level descriptor of the NRT-IT. In the description of the present invention, the corresponding descriptor will be referred to as an internet location descriptor internet_location_descriptor( ) The internet location descriptor includes a URL( ) field, which indicates the internet URL of the content.

Also, according to another embodiment of the present invention, an indicator field indicating whether or not the content is also being provided through (or available on) the internet is added to the NRT-IT field. In the description of the present invention, the field is this case will be referred to as an available_on_internet field. When the value of the available_on_internet field indicates that the corresponding content is available on the internet, the Content_Location attribute within the FLUTE FDT corresponding to each file that belongs to the content indicates the internet URL of the file.

More specifically, when the value of the available_on_internet field within the content loop of the NRT-IT indicates that the corresponding content is available on the internet, the Content_Location attribute of each file within the FLUTE FDT indicates the internet address of the corresponding file.

If the internet access information is provided through the internet location descriptor, the available_on_internet field may be omitted from the NRT-IT of FIG. 14 and FIG. 15.

FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 respectively illustrate an exemplary FDT XML (eXtensible Markup Language) schema according to the present invention.

According to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, when an attribute is required to be commonly defined in all files declared in the FDT (or FDT instance), an FDT instance level is defined, and when an attribute is required to be independently defined in each file, an FDT file level is defined.

Referring to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, the portion marked as number 1 corresponds to a declaration of a content linkage in an FDT instance level. The content linkage declared herein is given to all files declared in the corresponding FDT instance. Evidently, this information may be overridden by newly giving a content linkage from the file level. Alternatively, when a specific file belongs not only to the content (or content item) defined in the FDT instance level but also to another content, the content linkage may be given from the file level, which is then notified.

The portion marked as number 2 corresponds to a declaration of a content linkage in a file level. Herein, when the files included in the FDT instance belong to different contents, this method is used to signal the content to which each file belongs.

The portion marked as number 3 corresponds to a method of notifying for each file whether or not the corresponding file is an entry file. More specifically, among the plurality of files configuring the content, a file corresponding to a root file, which must be reproduced first, or which must be executed first in order to access the content, is referred to as an entry file. Herein, an entry attribute may be omitted, and when the default value is set to ‘false’ and is omitted, this indicates that the corresponding file is not an entry file.

As described above, by signaling each entry status in the file level depending upon the group to which the corresponding file belongs, a specific file may perform an entry function in a specific group and may not perform any entry function in other groups.

Also, in the file level marked as number 2, one file element provides additional information by using one or more attributes. Referring to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, one file element uses Content-Location, TOI, Content-Length, Transfer-Length, Content-Type, Content-Encoding, Content-MD5, FEC-OTI-FEC-Encoding-ID, FEC-OTI-FEC-Instance-ID, FEC-OTI-Maximum-Source-Block-Length, FEC-OTI-Encoding-Symbol-Length, FEC-OTI-Max-Number-of-Encoding-Symbols attributes, so as to provide location information, TOI, length information, type information, encoding information, etc., on the corresponding file.

When the file element of FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 corresponds to a file belonging to a content available on the internet, the present invention includes the internet address in the Content-Location attribute value marked as number 4. For example, the Content-Location attribute within the FLUTE FDT corresponding to each file belonging to the content item indicates the internet URL of the corresponding file. More specifically, in this case, the Content-Location attribute limits the type of the file to ‘Internet URL’.

Meanwhile, the broadcast receiver may use the NST and the NRT-IT to provide the user with an NRT-specific service guide screen.

At this point, the service guide screen for NRT services may be provided by using diverse methods. For example, an RT service and an NRT service may be simultaneously displayed in a single service guide screen, or an RT service and an NRT service may be independently displayed.

Furthermore, the RT-specific service guide screen may be shifted to the NRT-specific service guide screen, or the NRT-specific service guide screen may be shifted to the RT-specific service guide screen.

First Embodiment

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary RT-specific service guide screen according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The RT-specific service guide screen is configured based upon an event information table (EIT) including schedule information of each event. In FIG. 18, the title of a program that is currently served through a current RT based upon a current time, or the title of a program that is to be serviced through an RT in a future process is displayed for each broadcast station.

At this point, when the user uses an input means, such as a remote controller, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, and so on, to shift (or move) a cursor (or high-light) at a time position preceding the current time, i.e., when the cursor (or high-light) is moved leftwards, which indicates the past, the NRT-specific service guide screen is displayed. More specifically, an EPG for the RT service is shifted to an EPG for the NRT service. For example, when it is assumed that the current time is 6:00 P.M., and when the user uses the input means to move the cursor (or high-light) to a time position earlier than 6:00 P.M., the NRT-specific service guide screen is displayed. In other words, for example, programs that were broadcasted earlier (or in the past) are displayed on the NRT-specific service guide screen.

FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary NRT-specific service guide screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a service guide screen configured by arranging NRT services with programs that were broadcasted earlier (or in the past) through terrestrial networks. Herein, time information is displayed on the NRT-specific service guide screen. And, at this point, the time information indicates when (e.g., how many hours earlier) a specific program was actually broadcasted based upon the current time.

FIG. 20 illustrates exemplary NRT-specific service guide screen according to another embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 20 illustrates an example of a service guide screen configured by arranging NRT services with programs that were broadcasted earlier (or in the past) through terrestrial networks. Herein, also, time information is displayed on the NRT-specific service guide screen. And, at this point, the time information indicates the actual time at which the corresponding program was broadcasted.

However, since the programs arranged as NRT services correspond to programs that were broadcasted earlier (or in the past) (i.e., re-runs) and are displayed based upon the time information, in this case a link information connecting the RT service and the NRT service is required. For this, the present invention may include an NRT service identifier and a content identifier in a PSI/PSIP table, e.g., an EIT, or the present invention may include a source identifier and an event identifier of an EIT in an NRT service signaling channel, e.g., an NRT-IT. Alternatively, a separate table may be defined, and a link information for connecting the RT service and the NRT service may be described in the separately defined table. At this point, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the link information is signaled by further including a descriptor in the EIT or the NRT-IT. Also, when signaling the link information to the NRT-IT, a flag field identifying whether or not the corresponding program is a re-run may be further included.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary NRT-specific service guide screen according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the time information is not displayed on the NRT-specific service guide screen.

More specifically, FIG. 21 illustrates an example of a service guide screen configured by arranging NRT services with programs that were broadcasted earlier (or in the past) through terrestrial networks. At this point, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the programs being arranged as NRT services are grouped to one or more categories, thereby being displayed. For example, each program may be differentiated (sorted, aligned) by genre, as shown in FIG. 21, so as to display the NRT-specific service guide screen. Herein, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the genre information of each program is provided through a genre descriptor included in the service level of the NST or the content level of the NRT-IT. Furthermore, since it is assumed in the NRT-specific service guide screen that each program is a previous (or past) program, the actual broadcasting time of each program may also be displayed. Herein, a downloadable time for each program may also be displayed.

Herein, in the NRT-specific service guide screen, as shown in FIG. 19 or FIG. 21, when the user uses an input means, such as a remote controller, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, and so on, to select a specific program, a sub-menu (or a sub pop-up window) enabling the user to select “Play Now” or “Schedule Advance Recording” in accordance with the attributes of the respective program, is displayed. Each of FIG. 19 to FIG. 21 shows an example of a sub-menu screen enabling the user to select at least one of “Play Now” and “Schedule Advance Recording”, when the user selects a program entitled “Heroes Episode 5”.

Also, when additional information related to the selected program is served via NRT, an additional information button may be displayed on the sub-menu screen in the form of a text or icon, so as to allow the user to recognize the presence of the additional information and select the corresponding information. At this point, when the additional information button is selected, the corresponding additional information is provided to the user. The additional information corresponds to previews (or recaps or trailers), View video (or watch full episodes), music video, original sound track (OST) related to the program.

When several additional information related to the program exist, an additional information list may be displayed, so as to provide a specific additional information selected from the additional information list to the user. The sub-menu screen displayed in the NRT-specific service guide screen of

FIG. 19 to FIG. 21 is a mere example given to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. And, since the configuration of the sub-menu screen may be easily modified by anyone skilled in the art, the present invention will not be limited only to the examples given herein.

At this point, according to an embodiment of the present invention, even if the program available for “Play Now” and the program available for “Schedule Advance Recording” correspond to the same program, if the resolution of the two programs is different, the resolution information of each program is indicated next to each program by using a text format or an icon, thereby enabling the user to recognize the difference in resolution and to select the preference program. According to another embodiment of the present invention, in case of a program that is neither available for “Play Now” nor for “Schedule Advance Recording”, even if a cursor (or high-light) is placed on the corresponding program within the service guide screen, the corresponding program is inactivated, so that the user cannot select the corresponding program. More specifically, even if the corresponding program is selected, a related sub-menu is not displayed. However, if at least one of “Play Now” and “Schedule Advance Recording” is available, then the related sub-menu is displayed.

Meanwhile, when the user selects the “Play Now” item from the sub-menu screen from any one of the NRT-specific service guide screens shown in FIG. 19 to FIG. 21, the corresponding program may be pre-stored in the storage medium (e.g., HDD, flash memory) of the respective broadcast signal or may be directly provided from the internet.

If the program available for “Play Now” is a program being provided from a web server through an internet access, the internet access information of the program (or NRT service or content) may be acquired through the above-described internet location descriptor, or may be acquired through content-location attributes of the corresponding files of the FLUTE FDT, which belongs to the content corresponding to the program.

Furthermore, when the user selects the “Schedule Advance Recording” item, the files that belong to the content respective to the selected program are downloaded through the FLUTE session at a predetermined time, so as to be stored in the storage medium of the respective broadcast receiver. Thereafter, the stored files are immediately outputted or outputted upon the user's request to an output device, so as to be displayed. Then, once the downloading of the program is completed, an identification information that can identify the completion of the downloading process may be marked in a portion of the RT service screen or marked on the corresponding program within the NRT-specific service guide screen in the form of a text or icon, thereby notifying the user that the downloading process is completed.

Meanwhile, in some occasions, the program downloaded via “Play Now” or the program downloaded via “Schedule Advance Recording” may not be played-back by the broadcast receiver. In this case, playback may not be performed for many reasons. One of the reasons corresponds to when a codec for decoding the program does not exist in the broadcast receiver. The presence of a codec for decoding the corresponding program in the broadcast receiver may be known by using at least one of the encoding information and the decoding parameter, which are received in a MIME type text form through the NST or NRT-IT. The encoding information may include codec information used in the video stream of the corresponding program, codec information used in the audio stream of the corresponding program, and so on. Also, the MIME type encoding information may be provided by being inserted in the NST or NRT-IT in a field format, or may be provided by being inserted in a descriptor format. For example, it is assumed that a text indicating “The video codec used in Program A is A2” is included in the encoding information as a MIME type. However, if the video codec A2 is not installed in the broadcast receiver, the broadcast receiver is incapable of playing-back the corresponding program. At this point, it is also assumed that neither the video codec A2 nor any other backward compatible codec is installed.

At this point, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since playback cannot be performed even if the program is downloaded, a message is displayed so as to allow to user to acknowledge the situation. Herein, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the message is displayed in the form of a pop-up window.

For example, it is assumed that a download schedule is reserved in the sub-menu screen and that a video codec for the program scheduled for downloading is not installed in the respective broadcast receiver. In this case, based upon the transmitted MIME-type encoding information and decoding parameter, the broadcast receiver may generate a message saying “The video codec required for decoding Program A does not exist in this broadcast receiver.” or “The video codec required for decoding Program A does not exist in this broadcast receiver. Do you wish to download the required video codec?” or “The video codec required for decoding Program A is A2.”

The message is then displayed in the form of a pop-up window. Such message may also be applied when the playback option of a downloaded program is selected.

FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 illustrate examples of a message that can be displayed in the form of a pop-up window, when playback cannot be performed due to the absence of a codec required playing-back a downloaded program in the broadcast receiver. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the message is created based upon the encoding information and decoding parameter, which are displayed as a MIME-type text.

In the example shown in FIG. 22, the broadcast receiver displays a message saying “Due to the absence of the video codec, Program A cannot be played.” This message allows the user to recognize the reason why the corresponding program cannot be played (or played-back).

In the example shown in FIG. 23, the broadcast receiver displays a message saying “Due to the absence of the video codec, Program A cannot be played. Do you wish to download the required video codec?” Herein, buttons indicating “Yes” and “No” are also displayed so as to enable the user to select download. When the user selects the button saying “Yes”, then the required video codec is downloaded. The video codec may be provided through an NRT service or may be provided from a web server through the internet.

At this point, the downloaded video codec may be automatically installed in the respective broadcast receiver, or may be installed upon the user's request.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary RT-specific service guide screen according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The RT-specific service guide screen is configured based upon an event information table (EIT) including schedule information of each event. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, a button that allows the screen to shift to an NRT-specific service guide screen is added in a portion of the RT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 24. Herein, when this button is selected (clicked), the screen may be shifted to the NRT-specific service guide screen. In the description of the present invention, the button that allows the screen to shift to the NRT-specific service guide screen will be referred to as a “View previous program” button, for simplicity. In the example shown in FIG. 24, the “View previous program” button is added on the upper right end portion of the RT-specific service guide screen.

More specifically, when the user selects the “View previous program” button from the RT-specific service guide screen, shown in FIG. 24, any one of the NRT-specific service guide screens shown in FIG. 25 to FIG. 27 is displayed. At this point, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a “View current program” button is added in the NRT-specific service guide screen, so as to allow the user to return to the current program. In each of the examples shown in FIG. 25 to FIG. 27, the “View current program” button is added on the upper right end portion of the NRT-specific service guide screen. Herein, also, the programs that were broadcasted earlier (or in the past) are displayed in the NRT-specific service guide screen based upon time or a specific category.

The difference between the RT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 24 and the RT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 18 is that a “View past program” button is further included in the RT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 24.

Furthermore, a difference between the NRT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 25 to FIG. 27 and the NRT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 19 to FIG. 21 is that a “View current program” button is further included in the NRT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 25 to FIG. 27. For example, while displaying the NRT-specific service guide screen, when the user wishes to view the current program, the user simply needs to select the “View current program” button. Then, the NRT-specific service guide screen shifts to the RT-specific service guide screen. Conversely, in the example shown in FIG. 19 to FIG. 21, in order to view the current program from the NRT-specific service guide screen, the cursor (or high-light) should be moved rightwards, which indicates the future. Accordingly, the RT-specific service guide screen is displayed. For example, when it is assumed that the current time is 6:00 P.M., and when the user uses the input means to move the cursor (or high-light) to a time position later than 6:00 P.M., the RT-specific service guide screen is displayed.

Similarly, in the NRT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 25 and FIG. 26, since the programs arranged as NRT services correspond to programs that were broadcasted earlier (or in the past) and are displayed based upon the time information, in this case also a link information connecting the RT service and the NRT service is required. For this, the present invention may include an NRT service identifier and a content identifier in a PSI/PSIP table, e.g., an EIT, or the present invention may include a source identifier and an event identifier of an EIT in an NRT service signaling channel, e.g., an NRT-IT. Alternatively, a separate table may be defined, and a link information for connecting the RT service and the NRT service may be described in the separately defined table. At this point, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the link information is signaled by further including a descriptor in the EIT or the NRT-IT. Also, when signaling the link information to the NRT-IT, a flag field identifying whether or not the corresponding program is a re-run (i.e., past program) may be further included.

Also, the sub-menu screen displayed in the NRT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 25 to FIG. 27 is a mere example given to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. And, since the configuration of the sub-menu screen may be easily modified by anyone skilled in the art, the present invention will not be limited only to the examples given herein.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the NRT-specific service guide screen of FIG. 25 to FIG. 27, even if the program available for “Play Now” and the program available for “Schedule Advance Recording” correspond to the same program, if the resolution of the two programs is different, the resolution information of each program is indicated next to each program by using a text format or an icon, thereby enabling the user to recognize the difference in resolution and to select the preference program.

For the non-described parts of FIG. 24 to FIG. 27, details described in FIG. 18 to FIG. 21 may be directly applied. For example, if the program available for “Play Now” is a program being provided from a web server through an internet access, the internet access information of the program (or NRT service or content) may be acquired through the above-described internet location descriptor, or may be acquired through content-location attributes of the corresponding files of the FLUTE FDT, which belongs to the content corresponding to the program.

In another example, when a codec that is to be applied to a program, which is to be downloaded through the internet or in NRT, or to a program that is already downloaded, a message is created by referring to the encoding information and decoding parameter transmitted as the MIME type, so as to be displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 22, the broadcast receiver displays a message saying “Due to the absence of the video codec, Program A cannot be played.” This message allows the user to recognize the reason why the corresponding program cannot be played (or played-back). And, in the example shown in FIG. 23, the broadcast receiver displays a message saying “Due to the absence of the video codec, Program A cannot be played. Do you wish to download the required video codec?” Herein, buttons indicating “Yes” and “No” are also displayed so as to enable the user to select download. When the user selects the button saying “Yes”, then the required video codec is downloaded. The video codec may be provided through an NRT service or may be provided from a web server through the internet. At this point, the downloaded video codec may be automatically installed in the respective broadcast receiver, or may be installed upon the user's request.

Third Embodiment

(a) of FIG. 28 illustrates an exemplary RT-specific service guide screen according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and (b) of FIG. 28 illustrates an exemplary display screen being shifted from the RT-specific service guide screen to the NRT-specific service guide screen, when a specific program is selected.

More specifically, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, an NRT-specific service guide screen subordinate to real-time broadcast programs is provided to the user. When the user selects a specific program from the RT-specific service guide screen, detailed information on the selected program is displayed as shown in (b) of FIG. 28. For example, when the program ‘Boys over Flowers’ is selected from the RT-specific service guide screen shown in (a) of FIG. 28, the detailed information on the selected program is displayed as shown in (b) of FIG. 28.

At this time, when additional information associated with the selected program is serviced in NRT, information indicating the existence of additional information is displayed in the form of a text or icon. The additional information may correspond to previews (or recaps), view video (or watch full episodes), music video, original sound track (OST) related to the program.

For example, in case the additional information ‘View video’ is provided through an NRT service, a button saying ‘View video’ is displayed at a portion of the detailed information screen. Then, a list of programs that can be viewed through ‘View video’ is displayed at a portion of the detailed information screen. At this point, the list of programs may be displayed automatically, or may be displayed only when the user selects the ‘View video’ button. The additionally, information may be provided through the internet, or may be provided through a FLUTE session in non-real time.

If 2 or more sets of additional information related to the selected program exist (e.g., View Video, Preview, Viewers' Opinion Board, etc.), a list of additional information is first displayed, thereby enabling the user to select one of the wanted additional information.

(b) of FIG. 28 illustrates an example of a display screen when a View video program of a program entitled ‘Boys over Flowers’ is being served in NRT, wherein a ‘View Video’ button is displayed at the upper portion of the detailed information screen of ‘Boys over Flowers’, and wherein a list of episodes of the program ‘Boys over Flowers’ (or program titles) that were broadcasted in the past (or earlier) is displayed at the lower portion of the detailed information screen. Herein, the list of program titles that were broadcasted in the past may all be displayed, or only the list of recently broadcasted program titles may be displayed.

At this point, when the user uses an input means, such as a remote controller, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, and so on, to select a specific program from the View video program list, the selected program may be executed (or activated) immediately, or a sub-menu (or a sub pop-up window) enabling the user to select “Play Now” or “Schedule Advance Recording” in accordance with the attributes of the respective program may be displayed.

In this case also, even if the program available for “Play Now” and the program available for “Schedule Advance Recording” correspond to the same program, if the resolution of the two programs is different, the resolution information of each program is indicated next to each program by using a text format or an icon, thereby enabling the user to recognize the difference in resolution and to select the preference program.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in case a program that is neither available for “Play Now” nor for “Schedule Advance Recording” exists in the View video program list, the corresponding program may become inactive, thereby preventing the user from selecting the corresponding program. However, if the program is available for at least one of “Play Now” and “Schedule Advance Recording”, then the sub-menu screen is displayed. And, in case a program that is available for “Play Now” within the View video program list, the corresponding program may be pre-stored in the storage medium (e.g., HDD, flash memory) of the respective broadcast signal or may be directly provided from the internet. If the program available for “Play Now” is a program being provided from a web server through an internet access, the internet access information of the program (or NRT service or content) may be acquired through the above-described internet location descriptor, or may be acquired through content-location attributes of the corresponding files of the FLUTE FDT, which belongs to the content corresponding to the program.

Furthermore, when a codec that is to be applied to a program, which is to be downloaded through the internet or in NRT, or to a program that is already downloaded, a message is created by referring to the encoding information and decoding parameter transmitted as the MIME type, so as to be displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 22, the broadcast receiver displays a message saying “Due to the absence of the video codec, Program A cannot be played.” This message allows the user to recognize the reason why the corresponding program cannot be played (or played-back). And, in the example shown in FIG. 23, the broadcast receiver displays a message saying “Due to the absence of the video codec, Program A cannot be played. Do you wish to download the required video codec?” Herein, buttons indicating “Yes” and “No” are also displayed so as to enable the user to select download. When the user selects the button saying “Yes”, then the required video codec is downloaded. The video codec may be provided through an NRT service or may be provided from a web server through the internet. At this point, the downloaded video codec may be automatically installed in the respective broadcast receiver, or may be installed upon the user's request.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when a ‘Back’ button is selected from the detailed information screen shown in (b) of FIG. 28, the display screen may return to the RT-specific service guide screen shown in (a) of FIG. 28.

Fourth Embodiment

(a) of FIG. 29 illustrates an exemplary RT-specific service guide screen according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and (b) of FIG. 29 illustrates an exemplary detailed information screen of a selected program. Herein, when additional information being provided in NRT exists, a text or icon enabling the user to recognize the existence of such additional information is displayed next to the corresponding program in the RT-specific service guide screen. In (a) of FIG. 29, an icon is used to indicate the existence (or presence) of the additional information. The additional information corresponds to previews (or recaps), View video (or watch full episodes), music video, original sound track (OST) related to the program. The additional information may also be available on the internet (or provided through the internet).

At this point, when the user selects an icon indicating the existence of the additional information, or when the user selects the title of the corresponding program, from the RT-specific service guide screen shown in (a) of FIG. 29, a detailed information screen is displayed as shown in (b) of FIG. 29. If only one set of information is provided for the selected program, an execution button is displayed at the lower portion of the detailed information screen. Herein, the execution button includes information indicating what the additional information corresponds to. In the example shown in (b) of FIG. 29, when a preview of a program entitled ‘Boys over Flowers’ is available through an NRT service or on the internet, an execution button saying “Video Preview” is displayed on the detailed information screen.

At this point, when the user clicks on this button, a preview video of ‘Boys over Flowers’ is played.

If one or more sets of additional information are provided for the program entitled ‘Boys over Flowers’, an execution button for each set of additional information may be displayed. For example, when it is assumed that a preview and a music video related to the program entitled ‘Boys over Flowers’ is provided through an NRT service or the internet, a “Video Preview” execution button and a “Music Video” execution button may be displayed. And, when the “Music Video” execution button is selected, a music video of ‘Boys over Flowers’ is played. According to another embodiment of the present invention, after displaying a list of additional information, the specific additional information selected from the list may be executed.

Furthermore, if the additional information has not yet been downloaded, a sub-menu (or button) enabling the user to select “Schedule Download” may be additionally displayed. According to another embodiment of the present invention, for additional information that requires a codec, when a codec that is required for decoding the corresponding additional information does not exist in the broadcast receiver, the broadcast receiver may display a message notifying the user of the absence of such codec. Thus, the user may refer to this message prior to selecting “Schedule Download” or “Play” functions.

In the above description, a method of shifting from an RT-specific service guide screen to an NRT-specific service guide screen, or a method of shifting from an NRT-specific service guide screen to an RT-specific service guide screen, a method of providing NRT-specific service guide subordinate to real-time broadcasting, a method of identifying programs providing additional information by using icons, and so on have been described in detail based upon a fixed NRT service.

However, it is apparent that this method can be applied to a mobile NRT service. More specifically, a signaling information table for the mobile NRT service according to the present invention include a service map table (SMT). More specifically, a signaling information table for a mobile NRT service according to the present invention includes a service map table (SMT). Also, an OMA BCAST service guide is used to provide content detailed information. The SMT is in correspondence with the NST of the fixed NRT service, and the OMA BCAST service guide is in correspondence with the NRT-IT of the fixed NRT service.

The SMT provides real-time services or non-real time services included in the mobile broadcast program and received and also provides access information of the component (or component item) included in each service. More specifically, by using the SMT and the OMA BCAST service guide, the list of recordings of the NRT contents stored in the storage medium may be created and displayed on the display screen. Since reference may be made to the fixed NRT service for the method of managing a storage medium and a method of displaying a list of recordings in the mobile NRT service, detailed description of the same will be omitted for simplicity.

FIG. 30 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a broadcast receiver for fixed NRT services according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The broadcast receiver in FIG. 30 includes an Operation Controller 100, a Baseband processor 110, a Service Demultiplexer 120, a Stream component handler 130, a Media Handler 140, a File Handler 150, a Service Manager 160, a PVR Manager 170, a first storage unit 180, an SG Handler 190, an EPG Manager 200, an NRT Service Manager 210, an Application Manager 220, a MiddleWare Engine 230, a Presentation Manager 240, a UI Manager 250, and an internet network interface (260).

The Baseband processor 110 includes a Tuner 111 and a Demodulator 112. The Service Demultiplexer 120 includes an MPEG-2 TP Handler 121, a PSI/PSIP Handler 122, a Demultiplexer 123, a Descrambler 124 and a second storage unit 125.

The Stream component handler 130 includes a Packetized Elementary Stream (PES) decoder 131, an Elementary Stream (ES) decoder 132, a PCR Handler 133, an STC Handler 134, a DSM-CC Addressable Section Handler 135, an IP Datagram Handler 136, a Descrambler 137, a UDP Handler 138, a Service Signaling Section Handler 138-1, and a Conditional Access System (CAS) 139.

The Media Handler 140 includes an A/V Decoders 141. The File Handler 150 includes an ALC/LCT Stream Handler 151, a File Reconstruction Buffer 152, an XML Parser 153, an FDT Handler 154, a Decompressor 155, a third storage unit 156, and a File Decoder 157.

The Tuner 111 for example in FIG. 30 detects signal transmitted over the terrestrial system with the control from the Service Manager 160 and tunes only the wanted channel, down converts to Intermediate Frequency (IF), and outputs to the Demodulator 112. The Tuner 111 may receive both real time stream and non-real time stream. In the present invention, non-real time stream is referred to as NRT stream.

The Demodulator 112 receives digital IF signal of pass bandwidth inputted from the Tuner 111 and performs automatic gain control, reconstructs carrier frequencies and timing to convert into baseband signal and equalizes the channel. For example, if the broadcast signal is a VSB modulated signal, a VSB demodulation process is executed for automatic gain control, and reconstructs carrier frequencies and timing. In the Demodulator 112, demodulated and equalized channel data is outputted to the MPEG-2 TP Handler 121 in a MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS) packet format.

The MPEG-2 TP Handler 121 is configured of an MPEG-2 TP Buffer and an MPEG-2 TP Parser, temporarily stores the Demodulator 112 output and then analyzes TS Header, and outputs to the Demultiplexer 123 if the Demodulator 112 output is a real time A/V TS packet or NRT TS packet and outputs to the PSI/PSIP Handler 122 if the output is a TS packet for PSI/PSIP table.

The PSI/PSIP Handler 122 is configured of a PSI/PSIP Section Buffer and a PSI/PSIP Parser, and temporarily stores the outputted TS packet from the MPEG-2 TP Handler 121 to reconstruct the corresponding table from PSI/PSIP Section data included in the payload of TS packet with referencing table identifier and then parse it. At this time, it is possible to find out whether one table is configured by one section or plurality of sections by the table_id field, section_number field, and last_section_number field within the corresponding section. Further, completing the corresponding table is possible by gathering sections having identical table identifiers. For example, it is possible to complete a VCT by gathering the sections having table identifiers allocated to VCT. Also, each of the parsed table information is collected by the Service Manager 160 and then stored in the first storage unit 180. The VCT, PAT, PMT, DST, EIT, ETT and the like, are stored in the first storage unit 180 after going through the process. The Service Manager 160 stores the table information in the first storage unit 180 in the Service Map & Guide DB format.

The Demultiplexer 123 divides audio TS packet and video TS packet and then outputs to the PES Decoder 131 if the TS packet is real time A/V TS packet and outputs to the DSM-CC Handler 135 if it is an NRT TS packet. Also, the Demultiplexer 123 outputs to the PCR Handler 133 if the TS packet includes Program Clock Reference (PCR) and outputs to the CAS 139 if the TS packet includes Conditional Access (CA) information. The NRT TS packet is divided into TS packet including NRT service data and TS packet including NRT service signaling channel. A unique PID is allocated to identify the NRT service in the TS packet of the NRT service data and the PID of the TS packet including the NRT service signaling channel is extracted using DST and PMT.

The Demultiplexer 123 outputs to the Descrambler 124 if the payload of the inputted TS packet is scrambled and the Descrambler 124 receives descrambling information needed for descrambling (for example, control word used in scrambling) from the CAS 139 and performs descrambling of the TS packet.

The Demultiplexer 123 stores A/V packet of real time from any one of the record, timed-record, or time shift request in the second storage unit 125. The second storage unit 125 is a mass storage device, an example of it can be a HDD. The download (storage) and upload (playing) in the second storage unit 125 is controlled by the PVR Manager 170 or the Service manager 160.

In accordance with a playback request, the demultiplexer 123 separates an audio TS packet and a video TS packet from an A/V TS packet uploaded from the second storage unit 125, thereby outputting the separated TS packets to a PES decoder 131.

The Demultiplexer 123, in order to perform such functions, is controlled by Service Manager 160 and/or PVR Manager 170.

Thus the Service Manager 160 receives DST by extracting the PID of the DST from the service location descriptor (or ES loop of PMT) of the VCT when the service_type field value indicates that NRT service is transmitted.

Further, NRT service is identified through the received DST, and extracts DST and PMT by using the PID of MPEG-2 TS including NRT service signaling channel. The extracted PID is outputted to the Demultiplexer 123. The Demultiplexer 123 outputs to the Addressable Section Handler 135 the MPEG-2 TS packets corresponding to PID outputted by the Service Manager 160.

The PCR is a standard time value used in syncing audio ES and video ES in the A/V Decoder 141. The PCR Handler 133 outputs to STC Handler 134 reconstructed PCR included in the payload of the inputted TS packet. The STC Handler 134 outputs to the A/V Decoder 141 reconstructed System Time Clock (STC) which is the standard clock from the system by the PCR.

The PES Decoder 131 is configured with a PES Buffer and a PES Handler, temporarily stores audio TS packet and video TS packet and removes TS header from each TS packet and reconstructs to audio PES and video PES. The reconstructed audio PES and video PES is outputted to the ES Decoder 132. The ES Decoder 132 is configured with an ES Buffer and an ES Handler, removes each PES header from audio PES and video PES and reconstructs audio ES and video ES which are pure data.

The A/V Decoder 141 uses each decoding algorithms to decode the audio ES and video ES and reconstructs to pre-compressed status and then outputs to the Presentation Manager 240. At this point, depending on the STC, the time sync is executed when audio ES and video ES are decoding. In one example, the audio decoding algorithm may apply at least one of AC-3 decoding algorithm, MPEG 2 audio decoding algorithm, HE AAC decoding algorithm, AAC SBR decoding algorithm, AAC+ decoding algorithm, HE AAC decoding algorithm, AAC SBR decoding algorithm, MPEG surround decoding algorithm, or BSAC decoding algorithm, and the video decoding algorithm may apply at least one of MPEG 2 video decoding algorithm, MPEG 4 video decoding algorithm, H.264 decoding algorithm, SVC decoding algorithm, and VC-1 decoding algorithm.

The CAS 139 is configured with a CA Stream Buffer and a CA Stream Handler, and the TS packet outputted from the MPEG-2 TP Handler 121 or the service protection data reconstructed and outputted from the UDP Datagram Handler 138 is temporarily stored and then reconstruct the needed information (control word used in scrambling) to descramble the stored TS packet or the service protected data. Thus, the CAS 139 acquires necessary information to descramble after extracting the Entitlement Management Message (EMM) and Entitlement Control Message (ECM) included in the payload of the TS packet, and then by analyzing the extracted EMM and ECM. The ECM may include the Control Word (CW) used in scrambling. The CW may be encrypted using the authentication key. The EMM may include authentication key of the corresponding data and the requirements information. The acquired information necessary for descrambling from the CAS 139 will be outputted to the Descramblers 124, 137.

The DSM-CC Section Handler 135 is configured with a DSM-CC Section Buffer and a DSM-CC Section Parser, temporarily stores the TS packet outputted from the Demultiplexer 123 and then reconstructs the addressable section included in the payload of the TS packet, and outputs to the IP Datagram Handler 136 after removing the header and the CRC checksum from the addressable section and then reconstructing the IP Datagram. The IP Datagram Handler 136 is configured with an IP Datagram Buffer and an IP Datagram Parser, and after buffering the IP datagram delivered from the DSM-CC Section Handler 135, extracts and analyzes the header of the buffered IP datagram and then outputs to the UDP Datagram Section Handler 138 after reconstructing the UDP datagram from the payload of the IP datagram.

At this point, if the IP datagram is scrambled, the scrambled UDP datagram is descrambled in the Descrambler 137 and then outputted to the UDP Datagram Handler 138. In one example, the Descrambler 137 gathers information needed for descrambling (for example, control words needed for scrambling) from the CAS 139 and descrambles the UDP datagram and then outputs to the UDP Datagram Handler 138.

The UDP Datagram Handler 138 is configured with UDP Datagram Buffer and UDP Datagram Parser, and after buffering the UDP datagram outputted from the IP Datagram Handler 136 or the Descrambler 137, extracts and analyzes the header of the buffered UDP datagram and reconstructs the data included in the payload of the UDP datagram. At this point, if the reconstructed data is service protection data then it is outputted to the CAS 139 and if it is NRT service signaling data, then it is outputted to the service signaling section handler 138-1, and if it is NRT service data then it is outputted to the ALC/LCT stream handler 151.

In an embodiment, the access information of the IP datagram transmitting NRT service signaling channel is a well-known destination IP address and well-known destination UDP port number.

Therefore, the IP Datagram Handler 136 and UDP Datagram Handler 138 has well-known destination IP multicast address and well-known destination UDP port number, and the IP multicast stream which transmits NRT service signaling channel, extracts the NRT service signaling data and outputs to the Service Signaling Section Handler 138-1.

Additionally, the service signaling section handler 138-1 is configured of a service signaling section buffer and a service signaling section parser. Herein, the service signaling section handler 138-1 recovers and parses NST, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, and NRT-IT, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, from the NRT service signaling data, thereby outputting the processed data to a service manager 160. When the NST is parsed, access information of a FLUTE session, which transmits contents/files configuring the NRT service, may be obtained. The information parsed from the NST and the NRT-IT is collected (or gathered) by the service manager 160, thereby being stored in the first storage unit 180. The service manager 160 stores the information extracted from the NST and the NRT-IT in the first storage unit 180 in the form of a service map and a service guide. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the function (or role) of the service manager 160 may be performed by an NRT service manager 210. More specifically, the information parsed from the NST and the NRT-IT may be collected (or gathered) by the NRT service manager 210, so as to be stored in the first storage unit 180.

Furthermore, when the user requests a service guide screen through a UI manager 250, the service manager 160 or the NRT service manager 210 displays an RT-specific service guide screen, as shown in FIG. 20, by using the information stored in the first storage unit 180, based upon the control of the operation controller 100. At this point, when the user uses an input means, such as a remote controller, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, and so on, to select a “View previous program” at the upper portion of the RT-specific service guide screen, the RT-specific service guide screen is shifted to an NRT-specific service guide screen, as shown in FIG. 21. Herein, in order to return to the current broadcast, a “View current program” button is provided at the upper portion of the displayed NRT-specific service guide screen.

Even if the program available for “Play Now” and the program available for “Schedule Advance Recording” correspond to the same program, if the resolution of the two programs is different, the service manager 160 or the NRT service manager 210 displays (or indicates) resolution information of each program next to each program by using a text format or an icon, thereby enabling the user to recognize the difference in resolution and to select the preference program. At this point, if the program available for “Play Now” is a program being provided from a web server through an internet access (i.e., web contents), the internet access information of the program may be acquired through the above-described internet location descriptor, or may be acquired through content-location attributes of the corresponding files of the FLUTE FDT, which belongs to the content corresponding to the program. Also, when a codec, which is to be applied to a program that is to be downloaded via NRT or to a program that is already downloaded, does not exist, the service manager 160 or the NRT service manager 210 creates a message upon reference to the transmitted MIME-type encoding information and decoding parameters, thereby displaying the created message.

Thereafter, a program, content, and additional information being provided via NRT, and which are scheduled for downloading, are downloaded at a predetermined time through the FLUTE session. At this point, the downloaded program, content, and additional information pass through a file decoder 157 so as to be stored in the third storage unit 156, or the downloaded program, content, and additional information are displayed on the display screen through a presentation manager 240.

At this point, when the program, content, and additional information are being downloaded, the NRT service manager 210 may be able to notify the user whether downloading has not begun yet, or whether downloading is in progress, or whether downloading has been completed, by using letters, icons, colors, and so on, so that the user can be aware of the downloading status.

The ALC/LCT Stream Handler 151 is configured with an ALC/LCT Stream Buffer and an ALC/LCT Stream Parser and after buffering the ALC/LCT structure data outputted from the UDP Datagram Handler 138, analyzes the header and the header extension of the ALC/LCT session buffered from the data. After analyzing the header and the header extension of the ALC/LCT session, if the data transmitted through ALC/LCT session is in XML structure then it is outputted to the XML Parser 153, and if the data is in file structure, it is temporarily stored in the File Reconstruction Buffer 152 and outputted to the File Decoder 157 or stored in the third storage unit 156. If the data transmitted through ALC/LCT session is data for NRT service, the ALC/LCT stream handler 151 gets controlled by the NRT service manager 210. If the data transmitted through ALC/LCT session is compressed, the Decompressor 155 decompresses and outputted to the XML Parser 153, the File Decoder 157, or the third storage unit 156.

The XML Parser 153 analyzes the XML data transmitted through ALC/LCT session and if the analyzed data is filed-based service then it is outputted to the FDT Handler 154 and if it is a data for service guide, then it is outputted to the SG Handler 190.

The FDT Handler 154 analyzes and processes the File Description Table of the FLUTE protocol through the ALC/LCT session. The FDT Handler 154 is controlled by the NRT Service Manager 210 if the received file is for the NRT service.

The SG Handler 190 gathers and analyzes the data for the service guide transmitted in XML structure, and then outputs to the EPG Manager 200.

The File Decoder 157 decodes the file outputted from the File Reconstruction Buffer 152, file outputted from the Decompressor 155, or filed uploaded from the third storage unit 156 using the pre-selected algorithm and outputs to the Middleware (M/W) Engine 230 or to the A/V Decoder 141.

The M/W Engine 230 interprets and executes the application, which is the data of the file structure. Further, through the Presentation Manager 240, the application may be outputted to an output device such as a screen or a speaker. In an embodiment, the M/W Engine 230 is a JAVA platform based M/W Engine.

The EPG Manager 200, depending upon the input from the user, outputs the service guide data after converting into a display format received from the SG Handler 190 to the Presentation Manager 240. The Application Manager 220 manages the handling of the application data received in a file format.

The Service Manager 160 gathers and analyzes the NRT service signaling data transmitted through the NRT service signaling channel or the PSI/PSIP table data and creates a service map and the stores in the second storage unit 125. The Service Manager 160 controls the access information of the NRT service that the user wants and controls the Tuner 111, Demodulator 112, and the IP Datagram Handler 136.

The Operation Controller 100 according to the command from the user through the UI Manager 250, controls at least one of the Service Manager 160, the PVR Manager 170, the EPG Manager 200, the NRT Service Manager 210, the Application Manager 220, and the Presentation Manager 240, and executes the user's command.

The NRT Service Manager 210 manages the NRT Service transmitted in content/file format through the FLUTE session on the IP layer.

The UI Manager 250 delivers the user's input through the UI to the Operation Controller 100.

The Presentation Manager 240 provides the user through a speaker and/or a screen at least one of the audio and video data outputted from the A/V Decoder 141, file data outputted from the M/W Engine 230, or service guide data outputted from the EPG Manager 210.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since an RT-specific service guide screen may be easily shifted to an NRT-specific service guide screen, or since an NRT-specific service guide screen may be easily shifted to an RT-specific service guide screen, the user may be able to conveniently use the NRT service and the RT service. Also, since codec information of a specific program, content, and additional information may be indicated based upon encoding information transmitted as a MIME type, a waste of time caused by downloading programs, contents, and additional information that cannot be played (or played-back) may be prevented.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A receiver for processing a non-real time (NRT) service, comprising: a network interface receiving signaling data including an NRT information element containing information describing NRT contents available for download to storage in the receiver, and data delivery element describing data units configuring an NRT content, a service manager parsing the signaling data, wherein the NRT information element includes a first content identifier identifying the NRT content, wherein the data delivery element includes a second content identifier identifying the NRT content wherein the first content identifier is further used to link the information in the NRT information element to data units described in the data delivery element associated with the NRT content for gathering the data units belonging to the NRT content, and wherein the receiver matches a value of the first content identifier in the NRT information element with a value of the second content identifier of the data units listed in the data delivery element to identify the NRT content to which the data units belong, and a handler receiving the data units belonging to the NRT content identified by the first content identifier based on the signaling data.
 2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the NRT information element further includes update information specifying whether the NRT content is automatically updated or not.
 3. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the NRT information element further includes content size information specifying a total size of the NET content, wherein the content size information is used by the receiver to determine if enough memory is available to store the NRT content before downloading is attempted.
 4. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the NRT information element further includes expiration information specifying an expiration time of the NRT content.
 5. A method for receiving a non-real time (NRT) service, comprising: receiving signaling data including an NRT information element containing information describing NRT contents available for download to storage in a receiver, and data delivery element describing data units configuring an NRT content, parsing the signaling data, wherein the NRT information element includes a first content identifier identifying the NRT content, wherein the data delivery element includes a second content identifier identifying the NRT content wherein the first content identifier is further used to link the information in the NRT information element to data units described in the data delivery element associated with the NRT content for gathering the data units belonging to the NRT content, and wherein the receiver matches a value of the first content identifier in the NRT information element with a value of the second content identifier of the data units listed in the data delivery element to identify the NRT content to which the data units belong, and receiving the data units belonging to the NRT content identified by the first content identifier based on the signaling data.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the NRT information element further includes update information specifying whether the NRT content is automatically updated or not.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the NRT information element further includes content size information specifying a total size of the NET content, wherein the content size information is used by the receiver to determine if enough memory is available to store the NRT content before downloading is attempted.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the NRT information element further includes expiration information specifying an expiration time of the NRT content. 